Transcribed from the 1913 Thomas J. Wise pamphlet by David Price, email [email protected]. Many thanks to Norfolk and Norwich Millennium Library, UK, for kindly supplying the images from which this transcription was made.
LONDON: PRINTED FOR PRIVATE CIRCULATION 1913
Swayne Dyring o’er to the island strayed; _And were I only young again_! He wedded there a lovely maid— _To honied words we list so fain_.
Together they lived seven years and more; _And were I only young again_! And seven fair babes to him she bore— _To honied words we list so fain_.
Then death arrived in luckless hour; _And were I only young again_! Then died the lovely lily flower— _To honied words we list so fain_.
The Swayne he has crossed the salt sea way, _And were I only young again_! And he has wedded another may— _To honied words we list so fain_.
And he that may to his home has brought; _And were I only young again_! But peevish was she, and with malice fraught— _To honied words we list so fain_.
And when she came to the castle gate, _And were I only young again_! The seven children beside it wait— _To honied words we list so fain_.
The children stood in sorrowful mood, _And were I only young again_! She spurned them away with her foot so rude— _To honied words we list so fain_.
Nor bread nor meat will she bestow; _And were I only young again_! Said “Hate ye shall have and the hunger throe”— _To honied words we list so fain_.
She took away the bolsters blue; _And were I only young again_! “Bare straw will serve for the like of you”— _To honied words we list so fain_.
Away she’s ta’en the big wax light; _And were I only young again_! Said she “Ye shall lie in the murky night”— _To honied words we list so fain_.
The babies at night with hunger weep; _And were I only young again_! The woman heard that in the grave so deep— _To honied words we list so fain_.
To God’s high throne such haste she made; _And were I only young again_! “O I must go to my babies’ aid”— _To honied words we list so fain_.
She begged so loud, and she begged so long, _And were I only young again_! That at length consent from her God she wrung— _To honied words we list so fain_.
“But thou must return when the cock shall crow, _And were I only young again_! “No longer tarry must thou below”— _To honied words we list so fain_.